(Photo: LetsGoWarriors.com Instagram account)
The Golden State Warriors went to Mile-High and took care of business against the Denver Nuggets last night, but #DubNation appeared to still not be satisfied.
It was a night to remember, but more-so back home as the San Francisco 49ers narrowly closed out what appears to probably be Candlestick Park‘s last Niners home game. In fact, as Monte Poole gave his post-game take live on the air, linebacker NaVorro Bowman was racing down the field for a game-clinching, thrilling, interception for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks also won, 5-4. Bay Area fans by and large were happy, but still pointed to the Warriors’ win as “ugly”. Even as the 49ers narrowly escaped tragedy, as the Atlanta Falcons were marching down the field inside the Niners’ red zone with under 2:00 to play, down by just a field goal, when Bowman pulled off the epic “pick-6”.
This is because the Dubs squandered a 15-point lead.
But they came back in the 4th quarter to seal the deal in a grind-it-out win.
Here are some highlights:
Stephen Curry, who for the most part shot poorly and even missed two technical free throws, scored just 14 points but still got 7 assists. He collected 4 fouls in the first half, which probably affected his rhythm. Here’s an incredible crossover he got on Ty Lawson:
Boos rained down on Andre Iguodala.
“We always got everybody’s back,” said David Lee, who had a game-high 28 points along with 10 rebounds. “Andre’s been a great player on this team, and he did a great job. He was a thorn in our side last year. He did a great job in Denver, so I think he understands fans are going to do that when you come back to an old (stamping) ground.
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“We’re happy to have him, and he’s going to get a huge ovation when he comes (back) to Oracle.”
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—Matt Schwab, San Jose Mercury
The Pepsi Center crowd of 18,551 rained boos down on Andre Iguodala from the moment he was announced during pregame introductions Monday night, and the venom increased each time he touched the ball during the game.
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Then, Iguodala gave his former fans one more reason to boo.
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In his first game back to the site where he thrived during Denver’s best-ever regular season in 2012-13, Iguodala played his usual stingy defense and added 12 points, six rebounds and two assists to lead his new Warriors teammates to an 89-81 victory.
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It was the most productive game Iguodala has had since coming back from a strained left hamstring Dec. 17, seemingly sparked by the crowd’s wrath and then saving a big shot for crunch time.
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Rusty Simmons, San Francisco Chronicle
Klay Thompson struggled once again from the field, going 6-for-16, put had this nail in the coffin to put the Nuggets away, 85-80 with under a minute to go:
From Poole of CSN Bay Area:
The Warriors had one of their best starts of the season, going up 24-9 with 7:15 left in the first quarter. Lee was particularly strong in the early going.
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This victory, coming two days after a win over the Lakers, represents the team’s first back-to-back triumphs since beating Sacramento and Toronto to being the month of December.
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Center Andrew Bogut left in the fourth quarter with a possible sprained ankle. He will be evaluated on Tuesday.
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STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
Lee, more than any other Warrior, was responsible for the game being as close it as it was. He gave them a strong start, with a 12-point first quarter, after which the Warriors had a 30-22 lead.
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Bogut had his ninth consecutive game with double figures in rebounds, grabbing 11.
Per @EliasSports, Andrew Bogut/David Lee are first teammates with 10+ rebounds in 9-straight games since Charles Barkley/Moses Malone (1986)
— GSWStats (@gswstats) December 24, 2013
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Sam Sorkin of Golden State Of Mind noted the defense:
The Warriors defense stepped up again, limiting the Nuggets to just 38% shooting from the field in their house. The Warriors rank second with 12 games, behind only defensive juggernaut Indiana, in holding the opposition to under 40% shooting from the field, and have gone 9-3 in those games.
Here are two highlight reels:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVK88hHKADk?list=UUcN82aNEyn_h5K44YgjNHRQ&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVK88hHKADk?list=UUcN82aNEyn_h5K44YgjNHRQ&w=560&h=315]
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